What is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).

How Is Hepatitis A Transmitted?

Fecal-Oral Route: Consuming food or water contaminated with fecal matter from an infected person.
Direct Contact: Close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sexual activity or handling items contaminated with fecal matter.
Contaminated Surfaces: Touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth or face.
Unhygienic Practices: Poor sanitation and hygiene, especially in areas with inadequate sanitation facilities.

It’s important to practice good hand hygiene and ensure proper sanitation to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A.

Homeless Encampments

Hepatitis A outbreaks frequently occur in homeless encampments. This is often due to unsanitary conditions, injection drug use, and the close living quarters of infected individuals.

Prevention

The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated.

Hep A Vaccination
Hand Washing
Washing hands before eating

Hepatitis A Symptoms

After contracting Hepatitis A, the body will produce antibodies that help protect against reinfection.

Adults

Usually resolves within 2 months of infection.

Fatigue
Low Appetite
Stomach Pain
Nausea
Jaundice

Children

Most children under 6 years old do not show symptoms or may have an unrecognized infection

Infectious Diseases Spread Through Feces

Feces are a biohazard and can be a vector for infectious diseases. These diseases can spread when spores or microscopic particles of feces are transferred from one person to another, often through ingestion. This transmission can occur directly, such as hand-to-mouth contact, or indirectly via contaminated objects, surfaces, foods, or water. Some examples of diseases that spread through fecal contamination include:

C. diff (Clostridioides difficile)

A serious bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon.

Campylobacteriosis

A bacterial infection that causes gastrointestinal illness, often linked to contaminated food or water.

Giardiasis

A protozoan infection that affects the intestines, commonly spread via contaminated water.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

A contagious viral illness affecting children, spread through contact with feces, saliva, or respiratory droplets

Salmonellosis

A bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps; often linked to undercooked food or poor hygiene.

Candidiasis (Thrush)

Though primarily caused by fungal overgrowth, poor hygiene and exposure to fecal contamination can exacerbate infection, particularly in vulnerable individuals.

Viral Gastroenteritis (Norovirus, etc.)

Highly contagious viruses that cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to vomiting and diarrhea.

Hepatitis A

A viral liver infection transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water

Cryptosporidiosis

A parasitic infection causing watery diarrhea; often spreads in recreational water or through food.

Meningitis (bacterial or viral)

While not typically associated with fecal transmission, certain viral forms can spread via fecal-oral routes, particularly in communal settings.

Rotavirus Infection

A common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children, spread via fecal-oral contact.

Shigellosis

A highly contagious bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.

Parasitic Worm Infections

Includes roundworms, tapeworms, and others transmitted through contaminated food, water, or soil.

Yersiniosis

A bacterial infection that can cause fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, typically spread through undercooked pork or contaminated water.

Human Feces Removal Services

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